ITU: ICT Regulation Can Be Economic Stimulus

The United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) today released an annual report on information and communications technologies that prompted it to push governments to support continued investment in network rollouts and technology upgrades while pursuing regulations that support still-growing demand for mobile and broadband services.

ITU issued its 10th edition of Trends in Telecommunication Reform, its annual report on the state of ICT regulation worldwide. It suggested that developing countries that continue with regulatory reform will fare best in weathering the global economic crisis.

“With technological convergence now blurring the lines between telephony, broadcasting, and online services, ICT regulators play a key role in fostering ongoing innovation and competition, enabling operators to adopt the latest, most powerful technologies, and ensuring consumers enjoy the very best range of services at the lowest possible prices,” said ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Touré.

The report found that converged technologies are raising competition. “Voice over IP (VoIP) services allow broadband, cable modem and wireless service providers to compete directly with one another, as well as promoting competition by enabling new service providers to compete without owning their own network infrastructure,” it said. But changes in technologies and market conditions also raise new consumer protection issues, ITU said.

Executive summary of report here.